ABS Harsh Environment Technology Center
ABS announced at the Second Annual Arctic Shipping North America Conference in St. John’s Newfoundland, Canada, the creation of the ABS Harsh Environment Technology Center located on the campus of Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN).
The Center will support the development of technologies for ships and offshore structures operating in harsh environments, particularly the Arctic. Applied research will be conducted to study vessels and units operating in ice covered waters, low temperature environments and severe wave and wind climates. It is envisioned that the R&D facility will become an established fixture on the campus.
Large exploration and production field developments in harsh waters have called for ice class guidance for offshore structures. Among the regions of particular interest and increased activity is marine transport in the Arctic regions of the North American continent, most of which lies in Canadian controlled waters.
Memorial is Atlantic Canada’s largest university and ABS has a longstanding relationship with the academic institution having worked together on various research and development projects as well as maintaining an on going student internship program for Memorial engineering students.
“The establishment of this new Center will fill a void in research in support of our offshore industry,” said Dr. Ray Gosine, Vice President, Research (pro tempore) at Memorial University. “Creating a safer working environment for those employed in harsh conditions is pivotal to the economic growth of the industries directly linked to Canada’s Arctic. Memorial is delighted to partner with ABS to take the lead in research and development in this important field.”
The ABS Harsh Environment program, coordinated within its Corporate Research and Product Development Department, develops state-of-the-art methodologies and tools for the assessment of ships and offshore structures intended to operate in ice and provides guidance on harsh environment operations.
